Machine for making cream filled wafers



05 QM Q km 3 Sheets-Sheet l s. 5. LEAF MACHINE FOR MAKING CREAM FILLED MFERS Filed MayG. 1939 WWN QQN NQN QRN NQ lll" Aprifl 13, 1943.

April 13', 1943.

s. s. LEAF MACHINE FOR MAKING CREAM FILLED WAFERS QWN MN s. s. E F 2 316 259 MACHINE FOR MAKING CREAM FILLED jmR S Filed May 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 13, 1943 BTAQHINE FOR BIAKING CREAM FILLED WAFERS Sol S. Leaf, Chicago, 111., assignor to Overland Candy Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 6, 1939, Serial No. 272,122

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to machines for making cream filled wafers and is particularly concerned with a machine of the type adapted to fill Wafers having a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves formed in the wafer.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved machine adapted to be used in the manufacture of confections of the type described, by means of which a cream filling may be spread uniformly upon the pastry parts of the wafer and the products so made conveniently handled and disposed in the machine that they may be combined to make the completed wafer with a minimumdamount of manual labor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved machine of the class described which may be utilized for making cream filled wafers of various kinds, and by means of which the amount of filling may be accurately predetermined.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automatic spreading machine for making cream filled wafers and other products, which is adapted to provide pastry members with a filling of predetermined character and depth, or with a plurality of different layers of filling of diiferent characteristics, and which is adapted to operate continuously When provided with suitable supplies of pastry members and filling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevational View of the input end of a spreading machine constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of that portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the output end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View, taken on the plane of the line fi-E of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The present machine may be utilized for making ordinary cream filled wafers of the type having upper and lower pastry members separated by a cream filling.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine for manufacturing such products is shown in elevation in these figures. The machine, which is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 40, comprises a framework having a plurality of vertically extending frame members 4 l-48, which are suitably secured to the longitudinally extending horizontal frame members 49-55, which preferably extend at substantially right angles to the vertical frame members, and are secured thereto by rivets or other suitable fastening means.

The framework of the machine may comprise two substantially identical vertical frames, one for each side of the machine, the vertical side frames being joined together by a plurality of horizontally and transversely extending frame members 56-68, preferably all of the same length and fixedly secured to two side frames of the machine by means of rivets or other suitable fastening means.

The horizontal frame members 55, 56 are preferably arranged adjacent the bottom ofthe side frames so as to leave the space between theside frames open and free at the upper portion throughout the length of the machine. The lowermost frame members 56, 58, Bil, GI, 64, 66, and 68 are arranged with one flange extending horizontally at the bottom to serve as a foot flange, which may also be utilized for securing the machine to the floor.

Any suitable standard shape of frame members may be utilized, although in the present embodiment the machine has been constructed mainly of angle irons having two flanges at right angles to each other.

The frame members 159 at the opposite sides of the framework may be utilized for supporting a drive mechanism by means .of a horizontal plate 1i] carried by said frame members and fixedly secured thereto. The plate 10 may support an electric motor ll, the drive shaft of which is adapted to drive a speed reducing mechanism l2, having a drive shaft '13.

The frame members 49 may also support a plurality of bearings 14-19 for rotatably supporting the shafts -82. Each of the shafts 80-82 is provided with suitable thrust collars 83 and additional bearings 84, 85 may be carried by the vertical frame members 45 for rotatably supporting the shaft 86. The shafts l3, 8!), 8|, 86 and 82 are provided with suitable sprocket wheels 81-94, predetermined of these sprocket wheels being connected by chains -98, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the shafts B2 and 86 are driven at suitably reduced speeds for operation of the movable parts of the machine.

At the upper part of the machine frame it is provided at each side with the horizontal frame members 99, I80 at each end of the framework of Fig. 1, these frame members being depressed below the uppermost frame members 5! sufficiently so that a conveyor belt IOI has its upper portion slidably supported upon a table plate I02, which is carried by the uppermost horizontal frame members 5|.

The conveyor belt IOI may be made of canvas, rubber, or suitable flexible compositions, and it has an endless belt provided with a plurality of transverse outwardly projecting lugs I03 at regularly spaced intervals.

The belt IOI is rotatably mounted upon drums I54, I05, which are carried by shafts I05, I01, rotatably mounted in bearings I08, I09 at each end of each shaft, and carried by framemembers 99 and I00. The drive of the conveyor belt IOI is from the right toward the left in Fig. l, by means of the driving drum I05, the shaft I01 of which carries a sprocket wheel III], which is driven by means of chain I I I and sprocket wheel I I2 on the shaft 82.

The table plate I02 extends from the vertical frame member 46 to the vertical frame member 65, and provides a smooth and fiat support over which the belt IOI slides and against which the belt and wafers rest while the spreading action takes place.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the uppermost angle irons 53 of the framework at this end of the machine may also support a table plate H5, which is adapted to support another conveyor belt H5, which is rotatably mounted upon the drums H1 and H8. Drum II1 has a shaft II9 rotatably mounted in bearings carried by the adjustable frame members I 20, which are provided with slots I2I for adjustable securement to the frame members 53 by means of screw bolts I22.

The "adjustable members I23 permit adjust ment of the proximity of the drum H1 and also that end of the conveyor belt I I6 to the conveyor belt IOI carried by the driving drum I05. The drum H1 is preferably made relatively smaller and may be termed a roller, in order that the upper horizontal portion of the conveyor belt I I5 may be brought quite close to the horizontal portion of the conveyor belt IOI.

The drum II8 has its shaft I23 rotatably supported in bearings I24 at each side of the framework, which are carried by the slidably mounted frame members I25 on each side of the frame. Each of the slidably mounted frame members I25 consists of a metallic member having the slots I25 for receiving the screw bolts I21, which are fixedly mounted in the upper frame members 55.

The frame members I25 have upwardly extending lugs I28 provided with a threaded bore for receiving the threaded end I29 of a screw shaft I30, which has a hand wheel I and is rotatably mounted in the vertical frame member 42 by means of a suitable bearing and thrust collars I3I' on each side.

The bearings I24 are thus mounted for horizontal movement and adjustment by means of the hand wheels I3I so that the belt H6 may be suitably tightened. Each of the drums IIII, II1, I05, and I04 may be provided with a suitable crown so that the belt will be kept in the middle of each roller or drum, in spite of inaccuracies of alignment of the axes of the drums.

The drum I I8 has its shaft I23 driven by means of a sprocket wheel I32 engaging a chain I33, which also engages the sprocket wheel I34 on shaft I35. The shaft I35 is rotatable in bearings I36 carried by the frame members.

The drive shaft I30 is rotatably supported in the bearing I42 (Fig. 1) carried by transverse frame members 62. The drive shaft I39 has at its right hand (Fig. l) a bevel gear I44, which is driven from the bevel gear I45 on the shaft 82.

The relation of the driving gears and sprockets is such that the belt H6 is driven at a greater speed than the belt IOI, for a purpose later to be described.

Referring again to Fig. l, the vertically extending frame members 43 are secured at each side of the machine to the frame members and SI, and project above the belt IilI for the purpose of supporting a hopper I50. For this purpose each of the frame members 48 is provided with a cylindrical aperture I5I, forming a bearing for receiving a supporting shaft I52 carried by the upper part of the diagonally extending wall I53 of the hopper.

The horizontal frame members 5| also support a pair of upwardly extending plates I54 which are provided with apertures I55 for receiving the cylindrical ends of a rectangular bar I56. The rectangular bar I56 is adapted to receive the threaded screw bolts I 51, having thumb nuts I 58, having laterally turned ends I16 engaging the projecting edges of the hopper wall I53, by means of which the position of the lower part of the hopper may be adjustably secured.

The hopper I50 may comprise a sheet metal member of suitable non-corrodible metal, such as stainless steel, having a pair of trapezoidal side walls I60, a flat bottom wall I6I, a rectangular rear wall I53, and a rectangular front wall I62.

The front, rear, and bottom walls may be provided with attaching flanges overlapping the side walls I60 or angle irons may be used to secure the walls together at the corners so as to provide the downwardly tapering hopper, which has a substantially rectangular discharge aperture I63 at the forward end of the bottom, due to the fact that the bottom plate I6I is of less area than the bottom of the hopper.

The angle irons I11, which are used to secure the walls of the hopper together, are preferably disposed on the outside of the hopper at the cor ners thereof, so that the inner surface of the hopper may be as smooth as possible.

The bottom I5I is supported adjacent the hopper, but slightly spaced from the top of a wafer to be spread, which is carried by the belt to be spread with filler, which wafer is carried by the belt NH.

The forward Wall I62 of the hopper has its lowermost edge I64 spaced from the wafers 34 an amount equal to the thickness of the thickest spread to be applied, and the hopper is preferably provided with a transversely extending striking plate I65, having a beveled edge I68 and a knifelike lower edge I61.

The striking plate IE5 is movably mounted by means of a pair of racks I58, the teeth of which engage pinions I69 carried by the shaft I10.

The shaft I10 is rotatably mounted in bearings I1I carried by the wall I62 at the opposite ends of the shaft I10. The shaft I10 is provided with a hand wheel I12, fixedly secured to the shaft and adapted to actuate the pinions I69. The striking plate I is also slidably supported by means of the slots I13, which receive the screw bolts I14 carried by the wall I62 and provided with wing nuts I15.

Thus the striking plate I65 may be moved to any desired position by means of the hand wheel I12, and secured in adjusted position by means of the wing nuts I15. The striking plate I65 determines the thickness of the filler which is spread upon the wafer 34.

The side walls I99 of the hopper are preferably provided with bearings I18 at each side adjacent the top for rotatably supporting the rocker shaft I19. The rocker shaft I19 has a flattened portion I89, to which a paddle I8I is secured for the purpose of agitating and feeding the filler I82. The paddle I8I is preferably a substantially rectangular plate provided with an inner rectangular aperture I83.

At its outer end the shaft I19 carries a crank arm I84, which is connected by a screw bolt I85 to a connecting rod I86. The connecting rod I 86 has its lower end pivotally connected to a crank arm I91 carried by a shaft 86, which is driven by means of a sprocket wheel 94 and chain 98.

Thus the paddle I83 is periodically moved upwardly andv downwardly in the hopper, tending to cause a downward pressure of the filler I82 in the hopper and to keep the material sufiiciently agitated in the hopper to feed it uniformly from the discharge aperture.

The table plate I92 is provided at each side adjacent the hopper I59 with a pair of guide-supporting members I99I93. Each guide supporting member comprises a substantially rectangular bar of metal, having a bore for receiving the through bolt I94, which is adapted to clamp it to the table plate I92 and frame member Each guide-supporting member I 99I 93 is rabbeted at I95, and two guide-supporting members at each side of the machine carry a longitudinally extending plate I96. The elevation of the plate I96 is such that it engages the edge of the wafer 34, and the spacing between the plates I96 is such that the wafer 34 may slide between them.

The guide plates I96 have their inner guide between the transverse lugs I93 on the belt I9I.

The spacing between the lugs I93 is such that the wafers 34 have their cylindrical portions fitting between the lugs I93. The flat border about the cylindrical portions of the wafers is of sufficient width at each end of the wafer to cover half of the lugs I93. 2:. continuous surface of pastry to the lower side of the hopper, which can be spread with the filler without any waste.

The lug or strip following the wafer is adapted to engage the ends of the cylindrical formations on the wafer, to carry the wafer along on the belt.

The machine may be provided with guide members 299 carried by supporting brackets 29I on the table plate I92 at the right of the hopper in Fig. 1, so as to guide the operator into the placing of wafers in the proper position, midway between the sides of the belt.

The belt I9I has its upper surface rotating from the right toward the left in Fig. 1, and it carries the wafers 34 under the hopper I59, where they are firmly supported by the plate I92 under the belt. As the wafer passes under the discharge slot I93 of the hopper I59, plastic filler flows out into the grooves of the Wafer, and covers the en- Thus the wafers present tire surface of the wafer as the wafer progresses toward the left under the hopper.

The striking plate I determines the depth of the layer of filler on the wafer, and smooths off the surface of the filler, the beveled surface I66 serving to provide an increased pressure at the knife edge I61 of the striking plate I55, which gives a smoother surface to the filler.

The belt I9I continues to carry the filled wafers out from under the hopper and over on th belt H6. The belt H3 is moving at a faster rate, which serves to increase the separation between the filled wafers on the belt I I9 and to indicate to the operator the boundaries between the respective wafers. The filled wafers as they emerge from the hopper present a smooth continuous and unbroken upper surface of filler, but the increased speed of the belt IIB causes each wafer, which is drawn on the belt II6, to be spaced a distance from each succeeding wafer.

The product of the machine and method is stronger than the cream filled wafers of the prior art, and may be shipped and handled with less breakage. There is a tight adhesion between the filler and wafers, and the internal ribs 229 in the grooves 3I of the wafer anchor the filler against longitudinal movement in the groove.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letter Patent of the United States, is:

In a machine for spreading a confection on a succession of pastry wafers; each of said wafers being of rectangular form, having side and end flanges in the same plane, and having a series of parallel trough-like formations depressed beneath the plane of said flanges and presenting abutment portions adjacent the end flanges substantially parallel to the edges of the latter; said machine comprising a frame, an endless conveyor belt operatively supported on said frame to present a horizontal top run, said wafers being. disposable on said top run with their end flanges extending transversely of said run in contiguous relation and with said trough-like formations supporting the wafers on said run, transversely extending driving members secured on said belt and extending beneath the contiguous end flanges of adjacent wafers in driving engagement with the adjacent abutment portion of a preceding wafer, said wafers being transversely slidable on said run, a hopper carried by said frame and having a lower end opening to feed confection continuously onto the wafers on said run, and means for guiding said wafers accurately under said opening comprising plates supported directly beneath said hopper at the sides of said opening and freely overlying the opposite margin of said run, said plates having parallel edges spaced apart so as to slidingly guide the wafers while the confection is being supplied thereon and having divergent entering portions to guide the wafers between said edges.

SOL S. LEAF. 

